This Month's Latest Tech News in Jacksonville, FL - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

April was a landmark month for Jacksonville's tech sector, with the city taking bold strides in both innovation and economic growth. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority officially opened the Autonomous Innovation Center, laying the groundwork for the nation's first large-scale autonomous public transit network and powering plans to launch 14 electric AV shuttles downtown this summer as part of the NAVI program - a move anticipated to transform urban mobility and position Jacksonville as a model for cities nationwide (Autonomous Innovation Center Debuts in Jacksonville).

The city's autonomous ambitions are further amplified by a $100 million investment from German manufacturer HOLON, whose new local plant will produce autonomous vehicles, create hundreds of jobs, and inject nearly $300 million into the regional economy (JTA opens Autonomous Innovation Center downtown).

At the same time, Jacksonville stands at the forefront of the state's efforts to modernize digital infrastructure and cybersecurity, as Florida ramps up reforms and grants to secure critical systems amid escalating threats, underscoring the city's growing leadership in tech-driven safety and public service (Florida Addresses Digital Services, Cloud and Cybersecurity).

This month, Jacksonville marked a pivotal milestone in higher education and the region's tech future as the University of Florida officially announced plans to launch Florida's first master's program merging artificial intelligence with biomedical and health sciences at its soon-to-open downtown campus.

The program, slated to begin in fall 2025, demonstrates UF's commitment to filling talent gaps in emerging fields - focusing on AI-driven advancements in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of illness, which are crucial as the state grapples with a healthcare workforce shortage and rapid industry digitization.

The new degree will be housed at the $300 million Jacksonville campus located in LaVilla near the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, a site selected for its central access to employers, transportation, and health resources - reflecting thoughtful collaboration between city leaders, UF, and the broader community.

• AI & Biomedical Integration: The University of Florida is introducing a master's program combining artificial intelligence and biomedical sciences to address health sector needs.
• Strategic Downtown Location: The new campus in LaVilla, chosen for its central access and collaboration opportunities, will serve as a catalyst for community and economic growth.
• Economic Revitalization: Hundreds of students and new programs like the planned Florida Semiconductor Institute are expected to accelerate job creation and downtown revitalization.

Feature	Significance	Stakeholder
AI-Biomedical Master's Launch	First-of-its-kind in Florida; addresses healthcare workforce needs	Mary Thompson
LaVilla Downtown Campus	Central access improves industry and student engagement	Karen Brown
Economic Impact	Boosts local revitalization & tech job markets	William Jones

"The partnership between the University of Florida and Jacksonville city leaders demonstrates a shared vision for educational and economic advancement," said Karen Brown, emphasizing the central role of collaboration.

Anticipating hundreds of students in its inaugural years, the initiative is poised to accelerate downtown revitalization and spark job creation, as it sits alongside the planned Florida Semiconductor Institute and other high-demand graduate offerings.

For details on the program's unique features, see this report from Jax Daily Record.

For background on the campus selection and its broader impact, visit UF News' coverage, and for insight on the strategic downtown development plans, read the LaVilla site announcement.

Jacksonville-based Duos Technologies made headlines this month by securing a record $42 million, two-year asset management agreement with Fortress Investment Group affiliates to oversee and operate 850 megawatts of mobile gas turbines - assets acquired from APR Energy and aimed at rapid power deployment for growing energy-intensive industries like data centers.

This contract marks both the largest in company history and a strategic expansion beyond Duos's core AI and vision technology business, positioning the local firm as a key player in the critical intersection of energy infrastructure and digital transformation.

• Record Contract: Duos Technologies secured a $42 million, two-year agreement with Fortress Investment Group affiliates to manage and operate 850 megawatts of mobile gas turbines.
• Strategic Growth: The agreement marks the largest contract in company history, expanding Duos's focus beyond AI and vision technology into energy management.
• Local Impact: This deal positions Jacksonville as a burgeoning tech-enabled energy hub, supporting rapid power deployment and modern infrastructure needs.
• Revenue & Profitability: The agreement is expected to provide steady recurring revenue and drive Duos towards its fiscal year 2025 profitability target.

"This contract marks both the largest in company history and a strategic expansion beyond Duos's core AI and vision technology business, positioning the local firm as a key player in the critical intersection of energy infrastructure and digital transformation."

Source	Details	Link
Official Announcement	Contract details and company perspectives	Read here
Press Coverage	Media analysis and industry impact	See coverage
Company Financials	In-depth look at Duos Technologies' performance	Explore financials

According to Barbara Garcia, this milestone supports Jacksonville's ambitions as a tech-enabled energy hub in response to nationwide grid constraints and the accelerating demand for clean, scalable power solutions.

Jacksonville has taken a significant step forward in school safety this month by deploying artificial intelligence-powered camera systems across city schools, backed by a $115,000 safety grant.

These advanced AI cameras are designed to detect a range of weapons - including pistols, rifles, and shotguns - and notify authorities within seconds, giving school administrators and resource officers enhanced, real-time situational awareness for faster response to potential threats.

Chief Marcus Wood of the Jacksonville Police emphasized that this technology serves as an extra set of eyes, particularly in campus areas not constantly monitored by personnel, helping to deliver greater peace of mind to parents and staff.

The initiative not only leverages existing security infrastructure but also positions the city as an early adopter of emerging school safety solutions, reflecting a broader trend toward AI-powered threat detection in education.

• School Safety Investment: Jacksonville invested in advanced AI-powered cameras across schools to improve campus protection.
• Weapons Detection: The system quickly spots a range of weapons and sends instant alerts to authorities.
• Technology Advantage: By using these tools, Jacksonville becomes an early adopter in AI-powered school safety.

Key Initiative	Supporting Leader	Impact Area
AI Camera Rollout	Jessica Williams	School Security
Rapid Threat Notification	Thomas Martinez	Emergency Response

Learn more about how Jacksonville's police force is enhancing school safety with AI, see additional coverage on the city's embrace of AI cameras, and watch a local news breakdown of these security upgrades in this video report.

This month, Jacksonville's role in championing diversity within AI is in the spotlight thanks to the collaborative efforts of Keene Lane Co. and the global SheIsAI initiative.

Kathy Keene, founder of Keene Lane Co., has leveraged her expertise and recent distinction as one of five U.S. Canva agency partners to mentor and inspire women, particularly from minority and underserved backgrounds, to pursue opportunities in tech and AI fields.

As a brand ambassador for SheIsAI, Keene is part of a broader movement dedicated to closing the AI diversity gap by upskilling, empowering, and positioning women as leaders in artificial intelligence.

SheIsAI's mission includes high-impact programs such as leadership training, networking events, and the publication of an innovative digital magazine that spotlights women innovators, artists, and experts reshaping the AI landscape.

In a recent interview, Keene underscored the significance of these efforts, emphasizing the need for more women in tech and AI who can drive creativity and equitable solutions for Jacksonville and beyond.

• Mentorship and Diversity: Charles Johnson has actively supported women from minority and underserved backgrounds as they pursue roles in tech and AI.
• Empowerment Initiatives: Elizabeth Williams leads high-impact leadership training and networking events that prepare women for careers in artificial intelligence.
• Recognition and Community: Joseph Brown spotlights women innovators and experts through digital publications that inspire ongoing engagement within the AI sector.

For more on Keene Lane Co.'s achievements, visit this local news feature, and explore how SheIsAI is building an empowering global community via their official Instagram channel.

In an important move to ease nurse workloads and improve care, Baptist Health in Jacksonville has begun piloting an AI-powered documentation system that leverages voice-activated, ambient technology to facilitate real-time charting at the patient's bedside.

This initiative, powered in partnership with Microsoft, enables nurses to use a mobile app to record conversations and automatically populate electronic health records - saving time previously spent away from patients and helping to address the high turnover facing the nursing profession.

Early feedback from Baptist nurses suggests charting times have been cut in half, allowing for greater patient interaction and more personalized care, while patient privacy is safeguarded through encrypted, consent-based data handling.

As one of the first U.S. health systems to pilot this advanced AI solution, Baptist Health joins a nationwide trend toward deploying AI tools to reduce the administrative burden on clinical staff, enhance job satisfaction, and ultimately support better health outcomes.

• Baptist Health pilots AI: Charles Smith reports that Baptist Health is among the first to launch an AI-powered documentation system for nurses that reduces administrative workload. Learn more about the pilot's local impact and national context from CareerSource NEFL.
• Industry partnership and tech: Mary Martin explains that the initiative uses Microsoft's voice-activated ambient technology to allow real-time charting and automate health records management. Explore the underlying technology and industry partnerships detailed by Modern Healthcare.
• National context and outcomes: Linda Lopez highlights the broader adoption of AI tools across health systems to reduce staff burnout and support better outcomes. Review broader insights on AI's role in reducing nurse burnout from the American Hospital Association.

Benefit	AI Feature	Impact on Care
Reduced Charting Time	Voice-activated documentation	Greater patient interaction
Improved Data Security	Encrypted, consent-based handling	Enhanced patient trust
Lower Burnout	Administrative task automation	Better job satisfaction for nurses

Momentum is building in Jacksonville as “Brooke's Law,” Florida's pioneering legislation to combat deepfake abuse, advances toward enactment following unanimous approval in both legislative chambers.

Spurred by the experience of Jennifer Brown - daughter of former Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, who was targeted at age 16 by a pornographic AI-generated image that rapidly spread online - the law mandates that internet platforms establish policies and processes for victims to request the removal of altered sexual depictions, with a compliance deadline of 48 hours once the law takes effect in 2026.

Lawmakers emphasized the urgent need for these protections, citing data that 98% of deepfake videos are pornographic and 99% target women, while also highlighting the emotional and reputational trauma inflicted on victims like Brown.

With bipartisan support, “Brooke's Law” sets a new statewide standard for platform accountability and victim recourse, and advocates hope its passage will empower others to speak out and reclaim their digital autonomy.

For more on the backstory and legislative details, see how Jacksonville lawmakers crafted the bill after Jennifer Brown's ordeal, the law's path to the Governor's desk, and an overview of how it will help protect deepfake victims statewide.

This April, Jacksonville found itself at the crosshairs of national debates as the Trump administration's sweeping moves against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies rippled through local schools, tech, and research sectors.

Educators and officials in Northeast Florida grappled with sudden uncertainty after the administration tied federal funding - including essential Title I dollars for low-income schools - to new compliance certifications that broadly aimed to outlaw so-called “illegal DEI practices.” Lawsuits quickly followed, with nineteen states challenging the directives over their vagueness and the risk they posed to more than $13.8 billion for programs serving vulnerable students, including those with disabilities - a concern shared by local educators and leaders in Jacksonville's diverse public school system.

Read more about the multi-state lawsuit here.

• Funding Threats: Federal funding for schools is now at risk, creating uncertainty for local educators like Karen Martinez who rely heavily on Title I dollars to support low-income students.
• Research Impact: The administration's clampdown has led to terminated science and technology grants, disrupting worthwhile projects at universities and diminishing advances in AI fairness and data literacy. Details on the research funding cuts here.
• Tech Sector Response: Jacksonville's tech employers must reassess DEI policies to navigate new legal risks, while maintaining commitments to inclusive hiring. See how private sector employers are responding here.

"Adapting to rapidly changing DEI policies is a challenge, but Jacksonville's commitment to inclusivity in education and technology remains strong." – Nancy Lee, local tech leader

Sector	Main Challenge	Local Perspective
Education	Threats to Title I and special needs funding	Karen Martinez highlights uncertainty for equitable student support
Research & Tech	Loss of federal grants	Linda Lee stresses disruption to AI projects and workforce development
Private Sector	Reevaluating DEI compliance	Nancy Lee calls for careful adaptation in hiring and advancement

As DEI policy remains in flux at the federal level, Jacksonville's schools, workplaces, and tech innovators face a period of careful navigation and adaptation.

Jacksonville's public relations landscape is being reshaped by the rise of artificial intelligence, a shift detailed by local PR leader Sarah Harris of Axia Public Relations, who recently discussed how AI is transforming crisis communications strategies for businesses facing online disasters.

As organizations contend with social media slip-ups and rapidly evolving digital threats, Harris emphasizes that AI now enables faster detection of brewing crises, helps parse vast flows of social and news data, and supports the development of more agile, evidence-based responses - all while underlining the continued importance of human storytelling and professional judgment in sensitive situations.

This innovation reflects a broader national trend where AI-driven platforms process real-time inputs from sources like geospatial tools and emergency calls to improve operational awareness and response times, as explored in recent industry analysis.

For communicators and emergency managers alike, the integration of AI - while not a substitute for seasoned expertise - proves a significant resource for preparing, managing, and even mitigating reputational fallout in the digital era.

To dive deeper into Sarah Harris's local perspectives, see her interview on AI and crisis communications in Jacksonville, examine the national context in how AI improves crisis management, and explore practical response strategies in the Artificial Intelligence Crisis Tabletop Exercise.

Global tensions over AI chip technology have introduced new waves of uncertainty into Jacksonville's tech sector as sweeping U.S. export controls aimed at China disrupt industry supply chains and challenge the city's growing data center and AI ecosystem.

Recent measures from Washington now bar chipmakers like Nvidia and AMD from selling advanced AI accelerators to China, resulting in projected multi-billion-dollar revenue losses and impacting the competitive position of leading American firms, while also threatening to throttle innovation if companies relocate or face shrinking international markets (US-China Semiconductor Competition: Export Controls...).

Meanwhile, these policies have driven significant investment in China's domestic chip industry as suppliers scramble to fill the gap, raising concerns about a new global power balance for semiconductors (China accelerates semiconductor self-sufficiency amid U.S...).

Beyond the supply chain, new federal regulations targeting sensitive data flows and transactions with countries of concern are now adding compliance burdens for thousands of American tech firms, with estimated costs of nearly half a billion dollars annually, potentially affecting startups and established players alike in regions like Jacksonville (Preventing Access to U.S. Sensitive Personal Data and...).

The shifting ground on chip policy and national security is forcing Jacksonville's tech businesses, from established data centers to emerging AI startups, to plan for continued unpredictability in hardware sourcing, talent recruitment, and compliance as the global AI arms race intensifies.

Jacksonville's technology job market is surging as edge data centers and smart energy initiatives converge to meet escalating digital demand. Recent months have seen significant investments, with SBA Communications expanding Jacksonville's infrastructure through its 280,000-square-foot JaxNAP acquisition, enabling rapid colocation and low-latency connectivity for local industries and service providers (learn more about the JaxNAP deal).

Meanwhile, Jacksonville-based Duos Technologies is fueling growth with both the roll-out of new edge data center units and a landmark $42 million asset management agreement with Fortress Investment Group, which will deliver flexible, gas-powered energy solutions designed to power AI-driven edge sites and industrial operations (details on the Duos-Fortress partnership).

Duos Edge AI, a Duos subsidiary, has secured $2.2 million to rapidly deploy modular data centers in support of high-speed public safety and transportation analytics, setting the stage for more than 200 future installations - a sign that Jacksonville is poised to become a regional leader in edge computing and next-generation tech employment (see the latest Duos Edge AI developments).

As these projects launch, they not only address national power constraints and enhance digital resilience but also fuel the city's expanding pipeline of technology and engineering jobs.

Jacksonville's technology ecosystem is entering a pivotal phase, driven by collaboration between educational institutions, city leadership, and an engaged student community.

The University of Florida's new Jacksonville campus is set to open with Florida's first master's program merging AI and biomedical sciences, reinforcing Jacksonville's commitment to health-tech leadership and advanced education with a unique, state-first AI initiative.

Meanwhile, students across the city, including at the University of North Florida, are mobilizing to solve persistent issues like the digital divide by leveraging AI design challenges and interdisciplinary teamwork - an approach that promises to expand the region's tech talent pipeline and address real-world barriers through innovation-focused student initiatives.

• Education and Innovation: Jessica Taylor leads Jacksonville's universities as they offer advanced AI-focused curricula, supporting community health-tech progress.
• Student Engagement: William Perez champions student-driven tech initiatives such as the AI Design Challenge, helping bridge the digital divide.
• Investment and Leadership: Charles Anderson ensures strategic planning and local advocacy keep pace with surging national AI investment.

Area	Key Player	Impact
Education Innovation	Jessica Taylor	Drives introduction of state's first AI-bio master's program
Student Initiatives	William Perez	Leads city-wide AI design challenges
Strategic Investment	Charles Anderson	Directs response to national tech funding trends

Continued advocacy, community engagement, and policy innovation will be critical for maintaining Jacksonville's upward trajectory in AI and tech.